June 20 tribunal could determine the fate of Mercedes F1 future

8 June, 2013

Lewis Hamilton during FP1 in Canada

There is a growing consensus in the paddock that Mercedes will be penalised when the FIA’s brand-new international tribunal meets to discuss their secret Barcelona test on June 20, which in turn may cause the Stuttgart manufacturer to reassess its Formula 1 involvement.

One is why – if the test was not ‘secret’ – did Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg wear all-black helmets?

Mercedes’ Toto Wolff said the idea was to “protect the public”.

“We had no security and no press people on the spot and did not want fans storming the track,” he is quoted by RTL.

“If we wanted to make it a secret, our people would not have worn team uniforms, and we would have used neutral trucks,” he added.

Charlie Whiting

According to Sport Bild, the ‘secret’ leaked out when the FIA’s Whiting mentioned it to Grand Prix Drivers’ Association directors Sebastian Vettel, Pedro de la Rosa and Jenson Button.

The lasting consequence of the Mercedes test is that the door might now be open to the return of in-season testing.

There are rumours that Pirelli has demanded testing if Formula 1 wants the Italian supplier to stay beyond 2013, and last week FIA president Jean Todt ruled that Ferrari’s Barcelona test with a 2011 test fell outside the sport’s testing restrictions.

“So far, with our interpretation of the regulation, running with a 2011 car is not testing, as per the sporting regulations,” said Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali.

Another implication could be Ross Brawn’s job, after the Mercedes team boss admitted it was his decision to run the Barcelona test.

Told that rumours about his future have re-emerged, the Briton said in Canada: “I think there’s been some rumours before and nothing’s happened. I think we should wait and see what the tribunal finds and then go from there.” (GMM)